Potato Cellars

For a while now I've been interested in agricultural structures, particularly potato cellars. I like the old ones that are made out of concrete, wooden poles, dirt, and concrete and/or plywood. Unfortunately they are all falling down and are being replaced by generic, prefabricated metal cellars. I've been documenting these structures off and on for a couple of years, with the biggest push coming last summer. I'm photographing them with an 8x10 camera and making palladium prints. Here are a few of my most recent (I hadn't developed 8x10 in a while so some of these are from early spring) attempts.


Four Potato Cellars 2005

For other potato cellar photographs go here

Donny Osmond

Every once in a while I have to do things to keep Susan happy. She puts up with a lot from me, so it's the least I can do. Tonight was one of those whiles. Donny Osmond was in town to give a concert for BYU-Idaho and the community. I had sort of a bad attitude, but we went anyway. I hate to admit it, but I was entertained and had a pretty good time. If nothing else it was a professional performance, and the crowd really enjoyed themselves. The crowd was a strange mix. It was probably 35% college students, 45% people of my age (30s and 40s) and the rest were old people. So there was a mixed reaction of screaming adoration, loud clapping and weird dancing, and polite applause. Anyway, it was good to put in a little Susan time, which may buy me a little more time to pursue my selfish endeavors. Unfortunately I don't have any photographs. But here is Donny's website: http://www.donny.com/
p.s. I'm still not a fan.

Kevin's First Lost Tooth

Kevin has had a couple loose teeth for a while now, but has been too nervous to pull them out. This morning I received a phone call at work from a pretty excited kid. He told me that he was eating an apple and his front tooth fell out. Here's the proof. (Anybody know what a kid gets from the tooth ferry these days?)


Kevin's Missing Tooth

First Day of Work

I thought tomorrow was the first day of class. I woke up around 7:30, took a shower, had a leisurely morning playing around with the children, and got to the photography lab at 8:30 and found a lab full of eager students. I guess classes started today. I'll check the schedule next time. Though a little embarassing, the students were understanding and we managed to have a fairly productive class with no preparation.

Craters of the Moon and Shoshone Falls

Yesterday I developed some film and made some scans from the trip we made to Craters of the Moon. This is one of the photographs I made of Indian Tunnel at Craters of the Moon. I used an 8x10 camera and processed the film with the intention of making platinum prints.


Indian Tunnel, Craters of the Moon National Park, ID, 2005

We took the long - really long - way home from Craters of the Moon and visited Shoshone Falls. For the past five years Shoshone Falls has been nearly dry. This summer they are allowing a small amount of water over the falls. Even though the flow is nothing like it was during its early years, it was still nice to see water at the waterfall. I'm including a photograph I made of Shoshone Falls last year, and one I made on this recent trip for comparison. These were made with a 4x5 camera and the film was processed with the intention of making silver prints.


Shoshone Falls, ID 2004

Shoshone Falls, ID 2005

Craters of the Moon

My son Kevin, my friend Jon, and I went to Craters of the Moon National Monument to camp and photograph June 23rd and 24th. It's a remarkable place, and we had a good time exploring what it had to offer. The wildlfowers were near their peak, the weather was great, and nobody got hurt (too badly). Kevin's favorite things were staying up really late, and exploring the caves. I agree. Here are a couple of photographs.


Kevin, Jon, and my 8x10 Camera, Inferno Cone, Craters of the Moon, June 23, 2005


Kevin in Indian Tunnel, Craters of the Moon, June 24, 2005

Chalk Monsters

Yesterday and today Kevin has been drawing monsters on the driveway. He has pretty elaborate descriptions. The following are his words.


"Firehead" - He's destroying Earth and all of the humans, water is coming out of his mouth and drowning the people. If water hits himself he will be destroyed.


"Speedy" - He's trying to destroy Pluto. He's spitting water and lava. Water and lava will destroy each other. Big space rocks will destroy speedy.


"Slowy" - He's called slowy because it's hard for him to walk because he has six legs. He shoots out fire to kill other monsters. He only has one eye because some monsters have one eye.

Roundshot

My friend Jon has been trying to get his hands on a Roundshot Camera (a rotating panoramic camera) for a few years now. He had the opportunity to borrow one from his friend Chuck today. I went out with him and we made photographs of the Teton Dam. Here he is, with Chuck, using the Roundshot.


Jon Photographing with the Roundshot

To see Jon's photography go here.
To see my photographs of the Teton Dam go here.

Nests

Here are a couple of nests found by the boys.


Robin's Nest


Hornet's Nest

Grain Elevator

Eastern Idaho's economy is dominated by agriculture. I find the structures associated with agriculture beautiful. I went photographing this afternoon and found myself at this grain elevator east of Sugar City. The light was great and I made a "serious" photograph (large format black-and-white). Anyway, here is a photograph of my photograph.


Photographing a Grain Elevator


Under the Dark Cloth

For a "serious" photograph of a similar grain elevator click here

Caterpillar

Kevin's Grandpa Bartholomew gave him this cool bug keeper this past Christmas. This is Kevin's latest catch.


Kevin's Caterpillar June 18, 2005

Toast

Marty called this morning to tell me that Sid and Ferrel (Camas NWR employees) had found a Least Bittern. This would be the first documented record for Idaho. I was at my office and elected to head straight to Camas rather than coming home to get the camera. Even though I would like a photograph of my own, the bird was sufficiently documented. Anyway, here's a totally unrelated image of breakfast.

This is how Ethan eats toast. He tries to eat as much jam and as little toast as possible.


Ethan's Toast

Ice Cream Truck

When I was a kid I remember the ice cream truck driving through our neighborhood. My parents, to my recollection, never let us indulge. For the first time I can remember since our move to Idaho, an Ice Cream Truck has been prowling the neighborhoods. Kevin and Ethan can hear the truck several blocks away. Today we indulged. I had a Strawberry Shortcake Bar and Kevin and Ethan had some sort of multi-colored, multi-layered popsicle. As you can see, Ethan enjoyed his.


Ethan with Popsicle, June 15th 2005

Bleeding Heart

We have a beautiful set of white Bleeding Heart plants in the backyard. This is a photograph of two of the flowers taken in the garage (my natural light studio).


Bleeding Heart Flowers

Backyard

It was fun to enjoy some nice weather in the backyard with the kids this evening. Ethan and Kevin were having fun rolling down the hill. This photograph was taken while they were walking back to the top.


Kevin and Ethan in the Backyard

Shot

I suppose idiots everywhere in rural America like to shoot public and private property. It seems there are more people with a lack of respect in this area than others, or maybe I'm just more aware. Anyway, here are a couple of signs I discovered today.


Shot Camera Sign, St. Anthony Sand Dunes, June 12, 2005


Horse Sign shot with Arrows, Rexburg, ID, June 12, 2005

Glossy Ibis

A friend discovered a Glossy Ibis at Camas NWR today and I went out to see and try to photograph it. It was a difficult bird to see because it was mixed in with several hundred other Ibis and had its head in the tall grass most of the time. I managed to take a few mediocre photographs.


Glossy Ibis, Camas NWR June 11, 2005

For more images of the bird go to www.darrenclarkphoto.net/birds/ibis/index.htm

Father and Son Campout

Kevin and I went on a fathers and sons campout with our ward this weeekend. These are a couple images of Kevin enjoying himself on the rocks and in the fire. Both images are at Wright Creek, a private campground owned by the LDS church, which is between Driggs and Rexburg, ID.


Kevin on Cliff, June 10, 2005


Kevin Playing in the Fire, June 10, 2005

Baltimore Oriole

A Baltimore Oriole was found in Stone, ID, a small town just north of the Utah border. Baltimore Oriole is a common eastern bird, but quite rare in Idaho, one or two previous records. I left early this morning and had no trouble refinding the bird. There were several Bullock's Orioles in the area, but this bird stayed by itself and seemed to be trying to establish a territory. I managed to take a few photographs of the bird. Here they are.




Baltimore Oriole Stone Reservoir, Stone, ID June 9, 2005

Tee Ball

Kevin had his first Tee Ball game of the year. It didn't seem much like spring/summer. It was ca. 45 degrees and rainy. They played anyway. It was fun to see him play, but I look forward to comfortable weather.


Kevin with his Team


Kevin Batting

Broad-winged Hawk

Yesterday (June 6th) Jon Long and I went to Kelly's Island (a campground on the south fork of the Snake River in Bonneville county) to photograph a spillway on the river. When we parked I noticed a small dark hawk sitting in the cottonwoods. My first thought was Cooper's Hawk, but the tail was not long enough. I didn't have binoculars but managed to sneak up on the bird and photograph it. Just after this photograph the bird flew off, but never overhead just straight away. I never got a look at the underwing pattern, but everything looks good for an adult Broad-winged Hawk. As it is this is a rare spring migrant, but this seems quite late. Anyway, here's the bird.


Broad-winged Hawk, Bonneville County, ID 2005

Sunday Drive and Walk

After church I watched television, slept, watched more television and began to get stir crazy. There were thunderstorms and interesting skies and I thought I'd get out to see what I could find. I drove out to Cartier Slough and walked around. I walked back in the marsh and trees and found not a lot in the way of wildlife (one White-tailed Deer and a few common birds). It was nice to be out. I didn't find anything of interest to photograph, but just before getting home I saw these flags advertising ATVs for sale at Rexburg Motor Sports. Nothing spectacular, but they caught my attention.


Flags at Rexburg Motor Sports

Ethan

This post is for Saturday (I'm falling behind). Ethan and Kevin were playing in their designated corner of the garden, where there is too much shade to grow any vegetables. He and Kevin had some sort of confrontation and this is the result.


Ethan with Muddy Snot

Scans

Today I've been scanning images from a recent trip to SW Louisiana as well as some more local stuff (Eastern Idaho). Enjoy these two samples:


Hackberry Tree, Peveto Woods, Cameron Parish, Louisiana 2005



Potato Cellar, Hamer, Idaho 2005

Camas NWR

I birded Camas National Wildlife Refuge today. Migration is still going strong with ca. 60 Wilson's Warblers, ca. 70 empidonax flycatchers 1/2 or more were Traill's, three Redstarts, a Chestnut-sided Warbler, a Black-and-white Warbler, a Townsend's Warbler, and ca. 30 Western Tanagers. The Yellow-throated Vireo that has been seen since Sunday wasn't refound. It was a beautiful day, cool, some sun, some distant storms, and fairly calm winds. Anyway, migration should be winding down soon. Here's an image from the refuge.

Magpie Nest with Young Magpies

Not Much

I'm having a hard time getting this going. I think it will be easier when I'm back on a regular schedule. The past few days I've been doing a lot of birding, some photographing, and sitting around being a little bit sick. I'm going to start posting at least one image a day. Most of these will be digital images of everyday life, others may be more "thoughtful" for lack of a better word. Though a better outlet for the serious work would be my website. Anyway, enjoy today's image.


Bean plant that Kevin brought home after his last day of kindergarten.